Mineral recovery unit



Aug. 4,r 1964 Filed DSC. 27, 1960 J. STEPHAN MINERAL RECOVERY UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WMM WW1 J. STEPHAN MINERAL RECOVERY UNIT Aug. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed DeC. 27, 1960 INVEN TOR. wsa-Pff STEPHAN. Y

WM /ww wf ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,143,495 MIBERAL RECVERY UNIT Joseph Stephan, Phoenix, Ariz., assigner to Charles Newman, Tnrney, Ariz. Filed Dec. 27, 1969, Ser. No. 73,440 Claims. (Cl. 209-449) The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in the recovery of minerals from a solution in motion and to increase the yield of mineral values above that heretofore attained by means such as sluice boxes, concentrating tables or the like.

An apparatus of the type to which the present invention relates is shown and described in my Patent No. 2,944,668, issued July 12, 1960.

The present unit includes an arrangement wherein a pan or trough is provided with a riile construction to furnish pockets throughout the length thereof to create swirls and eddies in water ilowing over the riiile whereby a maximum deposit of mineral values is obtained and the eective elimination of rock, gangue and other valueless matter.

Although the flow of water over a pan or trough provided with riihes gives satisfactory results, it has been found that deposits of rock, gangue and the like tend to accumulate adjacent to the outlet end of the riffie pan or trough.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine so constructed and arranged as to impart a substantially uniform vibratory action to all material contained in the pan or trough.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pan or trough so arranged as to be movable uniformly throughout its length.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic recovery unit so constructed and arranged as to make practical the complete agitation of hydraulic solutions o mineralized ore or sand during swirls created by a riie construction as the solution travels the length of the pan or trough.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following description together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is a plan view of the mineral recovery unit showing a swirl grill partially broken away to expose a riiile construction;

FIG. 2 is a side View of the unit with the pan or trough inclined longitudinally;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 3 3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing an eccentric or cam shaft in a bearing integral with a movable portion of the unit taken on line 4 4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken on line 5 5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows one end of the unit viewed as indicated by arrows 6 6 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged View taken substantially on line 7 7 in PIG. 5.

As shown, the present unit includes a horizontal rectangular supporting frame 10 which may be provided with legs 11. Above frame 10 and in spaced relation thereto is a movable frame 12 of substantially the same shape as frame 16. Positioned above frame 12, and attached to one end thereof by hinge 13, is an adjustable frame 14 of rectangular form on which a rectangular rie pan 15 is mounted. The frame 14 which may be termed the pan frame may be disposed in varied angular relation to frame 12 by means of a pair of rack bars 16 which, as shown, are pivotally mounted at 17 at opposite sides 3,143,495 Patented Aug. 4, 1964 lCe of frame 14. The rack bars extend downwardly from frame 14 on opposite sides of frame 12 and are in mesh with teeth of gears 1S on pinion shaft 19 rotatable in suitable bearings on and extending transversely of frame 12. A hand wheel 21 on shaft 19 is provided for manual rotation of the shaft to move rack bars 16 upwardly or downwardly to position frame 14, on which pan 15 is mounted, in selected inclined position longitudinally relative to frame 12. The frame with the pan thereon may be locked in any desired position by means of a pawl 22 mounted on shaft 23 extending from frame 12. Handle 24 is provided to actuate the pawl to hold or release the rack bar 16 whereby the frame with pan may be secured in xed selected inclined relation to frame 12.

The pan 15 is of rectangular form having vertical walls 25 along both sides and across the feed end or extremity FE. The discharge end or extremity DE of the pan overhangs the pan frame 14. The rile pan 15 is provided with longitudinally extending hinges 26 to permit the pan to be moved to angular relation to frame 14 to cause the material therein to move to the lower edge of the pan for clean out purposes. The pan 15 may be moved to any selected position about hinges 26 by means of a rack bar 27 (see FlG. 3) having one end pivotally mounted in bearings 28 integral with the pan 15. Bearings 29 secured to frame 14 are provided for a shaft 31 having pinion 32 in mesh with the rack bar 27. Hand wheel 33 (see FiG. 2) serves for the manual actuation of the pinion cam, which by reason of its engagement with the rack bar, Yserves to cause the pan to be moved to selected angular relation to frame 14. A relatively low overflow flange or tailboard 34 extends across the discharge end of the riiiie pan 15 for the passage of valueless sand and gangue overllows. A clean out nipple 35 extends downwardly from the pan 15 and is provided with removable cap 36.

A plurality of upstanding strips or riftles 37 extend transversely of the ritle pan 15, in spaced-apart relation, to provide collection channels 38 intermediate the rililes throughout the length of the pan. The riihes have what may be termed a Zig-zag shape. Each riilie inclines first toward the discharge end of the pan and thence to- Ward the feed end, etc., throughout their length. Since all the riiiles are similar in size and shape, this provides a zig-zag contour to the collective channels 38 to provide a plurality of V-shaped pockets directed toward the discharge end as indicated at A and a plurality of inserted channel points as indicated at B directed toward the feed end of the pan.

The rifles 37 terminate in spaced relation to the feed end of the pan to provide a non-riled feed receiving area or box 39 at the feed extremity of the pan, the two sides of which are braced from each other by cross bar 41. The riies 37 may be formed from individual, separated zig-zag members secured to the bottom of the rillie pan in any desired manner or may be indented upwardly in the bottom of the pan. The riies extend in contact with the near side Wall 25 of the pan and terminate in spaced relation to the far side wall of the pan adjacent to the hine 26 to leave a longitudinally extending channel 42 along the latter wall communicating with all the collection channels 38.

It can be seen that if a hydraulic suspension of solids such as gold bearing sands, crushed ore or the like, be fed into feed box 39 it will flow downwardly over all of the rimes 37 and discharge over tailboard 34. The heavier value bearing portions of the solids will settle by gravity into the collection channels 38 between riflles 37. Due to the zig-zag shape of the rifdes 37 a double ilow is provided on each channel 38. First, there is the swirling flow caused by the longitudinal movement of the water transversely across the channel and second, there is a ow lengthwise of the channel from the apex points B to the V-shaped pockets A which effect an eflicient accumulation ofV values in the pockets A. A complete panning effect is produced in the channels by an overall bodily vibration of the inclined pan to produce a complete and substantially uniform actuation of the contents of the entire pan and avoid excessive accumulation of solid valueless matter at the discharge area of the pan.

The desired overall substantially uniform vibration of the pan is attained by the provision of a transverse shaft A43 rotatable in bearings 44 secured to what may be spectively secured to the feed end and discharge endV Yrespectively of movable frame 12 on which pan frame 14 is mounted.

Transverse shaft 43 is provided with a drive pulley 52 to be driven by belt 53 from a suitable source of power not shown. Motion is translated to rear shaft 45 by means of longitudinal shaft 54 rotatable in bearings 55 and 56 secured to frame 10. At each end of shaft 54 is a bevel gear 57 and 58 in mesh with bevel gears 59 and 61 respectively at the ends of transverse shafts 43 and 45 respectively.

As will be evident, the movable frame 12 is mounted on the eccentric portions 47 and 48 of shafts 43 and 45 by means of the bearings 49 and 51. Upon rotation of shafts 43 and 45 the pan frame mounted on movable frame 12 will, by reason of eccentric portions 47, be subjected to substantially oscillatory movement throughout its length whereby all matter within the pan will be vibrated to the same degree from the feed end and during travel to and at the discharge end. For the purpose of cushioning the vibratory action, tension means are provided. At the feed end of the frames a pair of helical springs 62 are positioned between brackets 63 which areV secured to fixed frame 10 and brackets 64 secured to movable frame 12. At the discharge end helito fixed frame 10 and brackets 67 secured to movable frame 12. The ends of each spring may be secured to the brackets by welding. Upon movement of the pan frame the springs serve to partially absorb the weight of the frame with pan and load after being lifted and released by means of the eccentric or cam portions 47 and 48 on shafts 43 and 44.

The travel of the hydraulic suspension when subjected to the ritles serves to retain a high percentage of the mineral values prior to the passage of the suspension over the tailboard. The efficiency of the unit may be increased byplacing a grill of specific design over and in spaced relation to the riies. This grill as shown includes a first side frame bar 68 which iits into and fills the longitudinal channel 42 along the far wall of the rile pan and a second side frame bar 69 which overlies the riflles adjacent to the near side wall of the riie pan. A plurality of zig-zag grill bars 70 are Welded to the top of the first frame bar and to the side of the second frame bar 69 in spaced-apart relation. The contour or zig-zags of the grill bars are exactly opposite to the zig-zags of the riies 37 so as to create eddy currents in the overflowing suspension.

The'dimensions and proportions and the incline of the pan should be such as to obtain a suicient current lengthwise of the rile channels to agitate and eliminate the major portion of the valueless black sands having a specific gravity of from 4 to 4.5 while retaining sand particles having attached metallic values and having a specific gravity in excess of 6 S.G.

As pointed out, the pan with riies and grill is inclined for the passage of the suspension with mineral cal springs 65 are disposed between brackets 66 secured .of the pan.

values thereover. By reason of the inclined position of the pan it has been foundthat gangue, rock and other valueless material accumulates at the lower end of the pan adjacent to the tail-board unless subjected to a relatively high degree of vibration on the order of that to which the feed end of the pair is subjected.

In accordance with the present invention as shown, the entire pan frame is vibrated as a whole, thus the suspension owing over the rifes is agitated to the same degree at the discharge end of the pan as at the feed end. This is accomplished by the action of the eccentric members which function to produce vibration of the same degree at the feed end as well as at the discharge end Thus the accumulation of sand or other valueless material at the discharge end of the pan is substantially avoided resulting in a more effective and eicient Yoperation of the unit. The vibration of the pan may be to any degree found desirable from a practical standpoint by variation in the contour of the eccentric or cam members. It has been found that satisfactory results are obtained by providing a vibration cycle of 1A6 inch in stroke.

From the above it will be evident that by reason of the present invention a panning operation may be performed with a high degree of eciency attained by reason of the novel form of panning in combination with a complete bodily agitation of the suspension container to prevent accumulation of valueless material.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in versely of and on the bottom of said pan and spaced apart to form transversely extending collection channels between adjacent riiiies, each of said riles being longitudinally zig-Zag in shape to provide said collection channels with longitudinally-aligned pointed portions directed toward the higher extremity of said pan and alternating pocket portions directed toward the lower extremity of said pan, a movable frame, a pan frame supporting said pan and mounted on said movable frame, a rigid frame, spaced apart rotary members having continuous eccentric perimeters mounted on said rigid frame, means for supporting said movable frame on said rotary members and means for actuating said rotary members to impart uniform oscillatory movement to said movable frame and supported pan.

2. A placer type mineral recovery unit comprising an elongated longitudinally inclined pan arranged to allow a hydraulic suspension to be fed into its higher feed extremity to overflow its lower discharge extremity, a plurality of rifes extending to overflow its lower discharge extremity; a plurality of rifes extending transversely of and on the bottom of said pan and spaced apart to form transversely extending collection channels between adjacent riiiies, each of said riies being longitudinally zig-zag in shape to provide said collection channels with longitudinally-aligned pointed portions directed toward the higher extremity of said pan and alternating pocket portions directed toward the lower extremity of said pan, a movable frame, an inclined pan frame supporting said pan and mounted on said movable frame, a rigid frame, a rotary member having a continuous eccentric perimeter at one end of said rigid frame, a second rotary member having a continuous eccentric perimeter at opposite end of said rigid frame, means for supporting said movable frame on said rotary members and means for actuating said rotary members to impart uniform oscillatory movement to said movable frame and supported pan.

3. A placer type mineral recovery unit comprising a supporting frame, a movable frame, an inclined pan frame mounted on said movable frame, a pan on said pan frame to receive a hydraulic suspension at the higher end of said pan for discharge from the lower end thereof, a shaft journaled in bearings secured to said supporting frame and adjacent to the higher end of said pan frame, another shaft journaled in bearings secured to said supporting frame and adjacent to the lower end of said pan frame, each of said shafts having an eccentric portion with a continuous surfaced perimeter, a bearing secured to said movable frame adjacent to the higher end of said pan frame, and having an eccentric portion of one of said shafts journaled therein, a second bearing secured to said movable frame and adjacent to the lower end of said pan frame and having an eccentric portion of the other of said shafts journaled therein and means for rotating said shafts to cause said eccentric portions to subject said pan frame and pan to substantially uniform vibration throughout the length of said pan during the ow of said hydraulic suspension thereover.

4. A placer type mineral recovery unit comprising a supporting frame, a movable frame, an inclined pan frame mounted on said movable frame, a pan on said pan frame to receive a hydraulic suspension at the higher end of said pan for discharge from the lower end thereof, a shaft journaled in bearings secured to said supporting frame and adjacent to the higher end of said pan frame, another shaft journaled in bearings secured to said supporting frame and adjacent to the lower end of said pan frame, each of said shafts having two spaced-apart eccentric members having continuous perimeters, a pair of spaced-apart bearings secured to said movable frame adjacent to the higher end of said pan frame, and having eccentric members of one of said shafts journaled therein, a second pair of spaced-apart bearings secured to said movable frame adjacent to the lower end of said pan frame and having eccentric members of the other of said shafts journaled therein and means for rotating said shafts to cause said eccentric members to subject said pan frame and pan to substantially uniform vibration throughout the length of said pan during the flow of said hydraulic suspension thereover.

5. A placer type recovery unit in accordance with claim 4 wherein a bevel gear is secured to each of said shafts, a longitudinal shaft, bevel gears secured to said longitudinal shaft and in mesh with said first mentioned bevel gears, a pulley on one of said shafts, a belt on said pulley for the translation of motion to rotate said longitudinal shaft to cause a rotation of said first mentioned shafts.

Simmers May 2, 1911 Stephan July 12, 1960 

1. A PLACER TYPE MINERAL RECOVERY UNIT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLY INCLINED PAN ARRANGED T ALLOW A HYDRAULIC SUSPENSION TO BE FED INTO ITS HIGHER FEED EXTREMITY TO OVERFLOW ITS LOWER DISCHARGE EXTREMITY, A PLURALITY OF RIFFLIES EXTENDING TO OVERFLOW ITS LOWER DISCHARGE EXTREMEITY; A PLURALITY OF RIFFLES EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF AND ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID PAN AND SPACED APART TO FORM TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING COLLECITON CHANNELS BETWEEN ADJACENT RIFFLES, EACH OF SAID RIFFLES BEING LONGITUDINALLY "ZIG-ZAG" IN SHAPE TO PROVIDE SAID COLLECTION CHANNELS WITH LONGITUDINALLY-ALIGNED POINTED PORTIONS DIRECTED TOWARD THE HIGHER EXTREMITY OF SAID PAN AND ALTERNATING POCKET PORTIONS DIRECTED TOWARD THE LOWER EXTREMITY OR SAID PAN, A MOVABLE FRAME, A PAN FRAME SUPPORTING SAID PAN AND MOUNTED ON SAID MOVABLE FRAME, A RIGID FRAME, SPACED APART ROTARY MEMBERS HAVING CONTINUOUS ECCENTRIC PERIMETERS MOUNTED ON SAID RIGID FRAME, MEANS 